Roxanne Watson is turning her own life-saving journey into a nationwide push for organ donation. A two-time heart transplant recipient, Watson has become an outspoken advocate working to register thousands of donors and give others a second chance at life.
What might look like a routine doctor’s visit carries far more weight for Watson. For her, each checkup is a milestone.
“Your lungs sound very clear, heart sounds are normal,” said Dr. Julia Shin, a heart transplant cardiologist at Montefiore Medical Center.
“I call it my oil change,” Watson said.
Shin, who has treated Watson for two decades, said her case is extraordinary.
“It’s rare to have a second transplant, but she got lucky,” Shin said. “When I first met Roxanne, she was in advanced stages of heart failure. Wasn’t able to walk a few blocks without getting short of breath, getting hospitalized a lot.”
Now, two heart transplants later, Watson is thriving — something she does not take for granted.
“She saved my life, more than once,” said Watson.
After enduring years of uncertainty and waiting, Watson said she made a promise to herself: save others from that agonizing wait for a second chance at life.
“You’re always thinking, ‘Am I going to wake up tomorrow? Am I going live to get that transplant?’” Watson said. “I said if I lived, I would do the work that I’m doing now and make sure that we sign up the most people in the United States.”
Watson has helped register more than 14,000 organ donors and is closing in on her next goal — signing up 1,000 more.
“I want to be an influencer. That’s what I want to be. For a good cause,” she said.
Watson credits her second chance at life to her donor, Michael Bolville, a member of the United States Coast Guard.
“People that knew him say he was a good kid,” said Watson.
When she is not advocating for organ donation, there’s one thing she’s doing instead.
“Signing people up,” she said, laughing. “And then the rest of the time, I’m resting.”